The expense of Living on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

As digital nomads, we’re constantly browsing the web in browse of somewhere to live, unpack as well as put down some temporary roots. We do our research study as well as try to source out costs as well as amenities before moving, however seldom do we discover precise costs of basic, daily items. Surely, these are the things that people want to understand when planning on visiting or living somewhere, right?

We lived on Lake Atitlan for almost 2 months, as well as are able to provide you a great concept of what groceries, transportation as well as lodging expense are like here.

Note: at the time of writing, 1 USD = 7.66 GTQ

These monthly costs are for two people. 

Κατάλυμα:

We looked at rather a few rentals before choosing on our current casita (small home). If you’re comfortable with just showing up as well as walking around to discover an apartment, that is totally possible. You can discover “for rent” indications on the actual houses that are available, or, you will discover numerous ads as well as listings in cafes, bars, hostels as well as tour agencies.

If you have time as well as don’t mind staying in a hotel up until you discover an apartment, then this choice might work for you. However, you will most likely be dealing with a regional person if you go this route, which will mean that you’ll requirement to be able to negotiate in Spanish.

If you would rather discover something ahead of time before arriving at the lake, you can always inspect on the internet with a few of the genuine estate companies. We discovered that the costs of lodging on the internet were really rather good, plus, you can offer with an English-speaking person.

We booked with Atitlan Solutions/Atitlan vacation Rentals, who had rather a few listings for us to look at before choosing on a vacation house we liked. You can likewise inspect out Terra X Atitlan or Century 21 (Antigua fine Homes).

In San Marcos, you can discover a wide variety of spaces at rich Apartments. Some have kitchens, while others do not. Some are studio style, while others have separate rooms. The costs variety from $500 – $1,700 USD / month.

Just outside of San Marcos, a 10 minute tuk-tuk ride, is Pasaj-Cap, a rental complex with 6 apartment units, 1 home as well as 3 cottages. The costs right here variety in cost starting from $525 USD/month. An obligatory $12/week cleaning service must be paid on top of the rental rate.

In Paxanax at Sunset Lodge (where we live), which is a 2 minute boat trip or a 20 minute walk away from the village of Santa Cruz, the expense of our apartment is $600 USD / month (although, we got a discount rate to $550 USD / month). This includes all utilities as well as a twice-weekly cleaning service, however we pay for drinking water as well as cooking gas.

There are many choices offered in the villages of Panajachel as well as San Pedro as well.

Check out the video of our gorgeous casita here:

Casita – $550

Bottle of drinking water, 18L, (x 5 bottles) 20Q/jug ($13)

Tank of cooking gas (2 tanks) 140Q/tank – 280Q ($36.33)

Our overall expense of lodging as well as Utilities / Month
Total: $599.33

Τροφή

We are really rather surprised at the expense of groceries right here on Lake Atitlan, particularly compared to the costs in Mexico. It’s still much cheaper than groceries in the western world though.

Here is a breakdown of the expense of food items, in Guatemalan Quetzal as well as in American Dollars:

γαλακτοκομικά προϊόντα

Aged cheddar cheese – 30Q ($3.92)

Block of routine sharp cheddar – 28.75Q ($2.61)

Philadelphia cream cheese – 19Q ($2.48)

Mozzarella shredded 400g bag – 34Q ($4.44)

Parmesan cheese 115g – 26.75Q ($3.49)

Butter – 24.80Q ($3.24)

Yogurt 1L – 25.70Q ($3.36)

Milk 1L – 14Q ($1.83)

Breads, Rice etc.

Small wheat tortilla wraps – 10Q ($1.31)

Loaf of grain bread – 19.35Q ($2.53)

Lasagna noodles – 10.25Q ($1.34)

Spaghetti noodles – 2.75Q ($0.36)

Chow mein noodles – 14.50Q ($1.89)

Rice – 4.5Q ($0.59)

Πρωτεΐνη

Eggs – 14.80Q / lots ($1.93)

Ground beef – 49Q/lb ($6.40)

Chicken breast (2) – 29Q ($3.79)

Refried beans – 6Q ($0.78)

Fish fillets (3) – 35Q ($4.57)

Fruit as well as Vegetables

White onion – 0.92/lb ($0.12)

Tomato – 0.77/lb ($0.10)

Carrots – 1.14/lb ($0.15)

Cucumber – 1.60Q ($0.21)

Green Pepper – 1.60Q ($0.21)

Garlic 3 pack – 4Q ($0.52)

Avocado – 3.95Q ($0.52)

Papaya – 10Q ($1.31)

Cantaloupe – 7.95Q ($1.04)

Banana – 1.23/lb ($0.16)

Αλκοόλ

Beer in store – 5/7Q ($0.65

Beer in restaurant – 20Q ($2.61)

Bottle of wine in store – 41.75Q ($5.45)

Glass of wine in restaurant – 25Q ($3.27)

Snacks as well as Other

Quaker cookies (4) – 2.50Q ($0.33)

Guatemalan dark chocolate bar – 21.75Q ($2.84)

Doritos chips(medium bag) – 9.60Q ($1.25)

Spaghetti sauce – 7.20Q ($0.94)

Mayonnaise – 12.75Q ($1.67)

Ketchup – 18Q ($2.23)

Olive oil 750ml – 20Q ($2.61)

Coffee 460g – 19Q ($2.48)

Fresh produce!
During our very first month right here (March), we spent 3,962 Quetzales ($517 USD) on groceries – strictly food items. during our second month (April) we spent a bit bit less than that, however rather close.

It’s important to note, that we eat quite well, with 3 huge meals a day as well as great deals of snacks. Your food budget plan might be much less than ours.

Our overall expense of Food / Month
$517

Alcohol as well as Entertainment

This listing includes the expense of wine as well as beer at the shops, street food, coffee at a cafe as well as a typical meal at a restaurant in Panajachel or San Pedro.

Bottle of wine – 41.75Q ($5.45)

Bottle of beer – 5Q ($0.65)

Cup of coffee – 12Q ($1.57)

Street food meal with poultry as well as sides – 15Q ($1.96)

Meal at a restaurant – 30Q as well as up ($3.92 +)

We have a beer or a glass of wine almost every day, as well as we don’t eat out at restaurants, except for the occasional street-food meal.

Our overall expense of Alcohol/Entertainment / month
$114

If you drink wine at home, it’s easier on the budget

Μεταφορά

There aren’t any type of appropriate roads linking all of the villages as well as most people go by taxi boat (lancha). You will show up by bus to the primary town of Panajachel, as well as it is likewise possible to show up directly to San Pedro by road from Guatemala City, Xela as well as Antigua. Within the villages of Panajachel, San Pedro, San Juan as well as Santa Cruz, you can take a tuk-tuk.

Note: Foreigners pay more than the locals do for boat rides, there’s no point in arguing, it’s just the method it is. These are the costs for tourists:

Taxi boat from:

Panajachel to Santa Cruz – 10Q ($1.31)

Panajachel to San Marcos – 20Q ($2.61)

Panajachel to San Pedro – 25Q ($3.27)

Panajachel to San Juan – 25Q ($3.27)

San Pedro – San Marcos – 10Q ($1.31)

Tuk-Tuk trip within Panajachel – 5Q ($0.65)

Tuk-Tuk trip between San Juan as well as San Pedro – 15/20Q ($1.96/$2.61)

We go into Panajachel about when a week by boat from Santa Cruz, we go to close-by villages as well as we take a tuk-tuk sometimes within the city. The more you move around, the quicker your costs will add up. For both of us to go to San Pedro from Santa Cruz, it costs 100Q ($13) return.

Our overall expense of transportation / Month
$48.32

The inside of a extremely full lancha boat
Final thoughts as well as Costs

How much you will spend living on the lake all depends upon which village you online in. If you’re in Panajachel or San Pedro, the temptation for bars as well as restaurants is high, which will eventually up your budget. If you’re constantly partying, travelling in between villages as well as eating out at restaurants, you will spend rather a bit more than we did.

Our way of life consists of free activities like kayaking, swimming as well as walking, the occasional trip to close-by villages, eating as well as drinking at house as well as just chilling out.

Each month we likewise spend an additional 300Q ($38.92) or so on miscellaneous products like tips, cell phone minutes, toiletries, garments as well as chances as well as ends.

Our overall Approximate Monthly expense of a couple Living on Lake Atitlan
$1,320

To discover more about Panajachel, click here.

To discover more about Santa Cruz, click here. 

To discover more about San Pedro, click here. 

Hopefully this info will assist you plan as well as budget plan for your trip to the lake!

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